Sewer system vote Tuesday in Durhamville

DURHAMVILLE -- Some Durhamville homeowners will vote Tuesday whether they want to borrow money to build a $4 million system to pipe their sewage to Oneida.

If passed, the proposition would provide for the establishment of the Durhamville Sewer District in the hamlet.

The resolution provides for the construction of a sanitary sewer collection system at a maximum estimated cost of up to $4.1 million.

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This will be financed through a hardship loan from the state through the Environmental Facilities Corporation. The terms of the loan include no-interest financing, payable over the next 30 years, and could save the town nearly $1 million in interest payments.

Town officials say there have been issues with septic systems in the area for years.

Durhamville, bisected by Oneida Creek, is typically wet, and Town Supervisor Owen Waller has noted in the past that septic systems fail frequently, causing raw sewage to go into open ditches and other water sources. This causes health issues.

In addition, many properties in the hamlet do not have room to install a proper leach field for septic tanks.

If the project is adopted, each homeowners in the district will pay $471 per year, whether or not they choose to hook into the system. If they do hook up, they will pay about $300 per year in fees related to pumping their sewage to Oneida for treatment, said Waller.

There will also be a one-time connection fee and a DEC-regulated septic tank disconnection fee for those who choose to hook into the system.

If the proposal is approved, the next step would be for permits and paperwork to be completed. The grant window runs out in October of 2013, so things need to be well underway by then, Waller said.

All engineering work will be completed by Syracuse-based engineering firm Barton & Loguidice.

Waller expects the project would be complete by late 2013 or early 2014.

There are 220 households in the proposed sewer district, which also has public water. The boundary of the proposed sewer district will mirror the existing water district. Roughly, the district would run east to west from State Route 46 to Durhamville Elementary and north to south from Foster Street to just before Foster Ponds Golf Course.

On Friday, Waller said he has heard comments from residents about the project and community sentiment seemed to be split evenly between those for and against the new district.

The Town of Verona currently has three other sewer districts -- Sconondoa, Route 365 and Verona Beach.

Another aspect of the agreement would include the City of Oneida, which would be handling sewage treatment.

The estimated volume for the sewer district would be to the tune of 50,000 gallons per day.

Officials have said the sewers would add value to properties and make the area more business-friendly.

"This will clean the environment," Waller said of the plan. "It will improve the quality of life for many."

The voting will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 16 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Durhamville Fire Department on Church Street.